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The dependable way to run Rails on an Ubuntu VPS is to install a supported Ubuntu LTS release, match Ruby to the version declared by the application, install the locked Bundler dependencies, prepare PostgreSQL, and run Rails behind Puma and Nginx. You can manage that stack directly with systemd, or deploy the application in Docker containers with Rails’ Kamal workflow.
This article assumes a fresh Ubuntu LTS VPS, SSH access, a domain name or test IP address, and a Rails application stored in version control. Keep application-specific versions from the repository’s .ruby-version, Gemfile, and lockfile rather than copying a version from an unrelated tutorial.
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A Rails server is a group of cooperating services, not a single package. A typical production request travels through this path:
Internet :443/:80 -> Nginx (TLS and proxy) -> Puma/Rails -> PostgreSQLBackground jobs, Redis, object storage, mail delivery, image processing, and JavaScript build tools are optional application dependencies. Do not install them merely because another Rails application uses them.
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Prerequisites
- An Ubuntu LTS VPS. Canonical’s Ubuntu Server documentation targets the latest LTS and covers package management, users, firewalls, encrypted communications, databases, web servers, and containers.
- An SSH key and a non-root deployment account.
- A DNS record that can point your domain to the VPS, unless you are testing with the server IP.
- A Rails repository, its production configuration, and access to any private gem or container registry it requires.
- A plan for secrets, backups, logs, updates, and rollback before the first public release.
2. Update and secure Ubuntu first
Log in as the initial VPS administrator and identify the installed release before adding application software:
lsb_release -ds
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgradeReboot when the kernel or other core services were upgraded, then reconnect over SSH. Create a dedicated account for deployment and application processes:
sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos '' deploy
sudo install -d -m 700 /home/deploy/.ssh
sudo cp ~/.ssh/authorized_keys /home/deploy/.ssh/authorized_keys
sudo chown -R deploy:deploy /home/deploy/.ssh
sudo chmod 600 /home/deploy/.ssh/authorized_keysCopying the administrator’s key is only a starting point. In a real team, install each operator’s public key deliberately, remove keys when access ends, and test a second SSH session as deploy before disabling any existing administrator access. Grant sudo only where your deployment procedure needs it; do not make the Rails process itself run as root.
Enable a host firewall while your current SSH session is still open:
sudo apt install ufw
sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'
sudo ufw enable
sudo ufw status verboseIf you are not using Nginx, allow only the web ports that your chosen proxy listens on. Never expose PostgreSQL or Puma’s internal port to the public internet unless a documented, intentional architecture requires it.
3. Install a Ruby version that matches the application
Read the repository before choosing a runtime. Check .ruby-version, the ruby declaration in the Gemfile, and the RUBY VERSION section of Gemfile.lock. Rails, native gems, and JavaScript tooling can require a particular Ruby release.
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The Ruby project’s documented apt example is:
sudo apt-get install ruby-full
ruby --versionThis is convenient for a small application that supports the Ruby version shipped by your selected Ubuntu LTS. The Ruby project also warns that major package managers can install an older Ruby than the latest release. Compare the result of ruby --version with the application’s declared requirement before running Bundler.
A version manager for pinned runtimes
When the project pins Ruby, install a maintained version manager and its build plugin according to your organization’s approved installation method. Then select the exact version for the application:
rbenv install <required-ruby-version>
cd /var/www/myapp/current
rbenv local <required-ruby-version>
ruby --version
gem update --system
gem install bundlerUse the same Ruby installation for the deploy user, systemd service, and one-off administrative commands. A common failure is installing Ruby for one account and then starting Puma as another account that cannot see that Ruby or its shims.
4. Install build tools and application dependencies
Install only the operating-system libraries your Gemfile and build process require. A common baseline for PostgreSQL-backed Rails applications is:
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sudo apt install build-essential git curl libssl-dev zlib1g-dev
libreadline-dev libyaml-dev libffi-dev libgdbm-dev autoconf bison
rustc libpq-devPackage names can differ between Ubuntu LTS releases. Add image libraries, Node-compatible tooling, Redis clients, or other development headers only when the application’s gems or asset pipeline need them.
For an existing application, clone the repository into a release directory and install the locked gems:
sudo install -d -o deploy -g deploy /var/www/myapp
sudo -u deploy git clone <repository-address> /var/www/myapp/current
cd /var/www/myapp/current
bundle config set without 'development test'
bundle installReplace the repository address with your actual source-control location. Do not paste credentials into a shell command that will remain in history. If the lockfile specifies a Bundler version, install and invoke that version rather than silently replacing it. Start a new Rails application only when you are genuinely creating one:
rails new myapp --database=postgresqlFor an existing project, its committed configuration, migrations, and build scripts are authoritative.
5. Install and configure PostgreSQL
Use the PostgreSQL version supported by the selected Ubuntu release and by the application. Install the server when the VPS will host the database; otherwise install the client libraries and use the managed database endpoint supplied by your provider.
Create a role and database with the least privileges the application needs. Run the following from a protected administrator session, replacing the names and password without putting the password in shell history:
sudo -u postgres psql
CREATE ROLE rails_app LOGIN PASSWORD 'use-a-secret-from-your-secret-manager';
CREATE DATABASE rails_production OWNER rails_app;
qStore the connection details in a protected environment file or secret manager. A typical URL is represented as postgresql://rails_app:password@127.0.0.1:5432/rails_production; use your application’s documented variable name, such as DATABASE_URL, and never commit it.
Rails documents database connections and migrations. The convenient preparation task is:
cd /var/www/myapp/current
RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rails db:preparedb:prepare can create the database and run migrations where the Rails version supports those operations. Inspect the project’s deployment scripts first; some applications intentionally separate database creation, migrations, and seed data. Run seeds only when the application explicitly requires them.
6. Set production secrets and compile assets
Production Rails needs a SECRET_KEY_BASE and, for encrypted credentials, the appropriate Rails master key. Supply them through a secret manager or a root-readable environment file. Keep registry passwords, API keys, cookie secrets, and database passwords out of Git, Docker image layers, shell history, and world-readable files.
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A protected environment file might contain:
RAILS_ENV=production
RAILS_LOG_TO_STDOUT=true
SECRET_KEY_BASE=replace-with-a-long-random-value
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://rails_app:password@127.0.0.1:5432/rails_production
RAILS_MASTER_KEY=replace-if-the-application-uses-encrypted-credentialsSet ownership and permissions so only the deployment account and the service manager can read it. Compile assets with the task supported by the project’s Rails version:
RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rails assets:precompileSome applications build JavaScript or CSS through a separate command, while others use import maps or a different asset pipeline. Follow the repository’s documented build steps and verify that generated files are present under public.
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Both of the following models are valid. Pick one deliberately instead of mixing pieces from different tutorials.
| Concern | Puma, systemd, and Nginx | Kamal and Docker |
|---|---|---|
| Runtime isolation | Ruby and gems run directly on the Ubuntu host; isolation depends on users, directories, and package discipline. | The application and its system packages are assembled into an image, giving a repeatable container runtime. |
| Upgrade and rollback | You manage releases, symlinks, Ruby versions, and service restarts yourself; rollback can be a previous release directory. | Deploying a previous image provides a clear rollback unit, but image and registry hygiene become part of operations. |
| Operational complexity | Fewer moving parts for one application, but you must write and maintain systemd and Nginx configuration. | Rails supplies a documented workflow, while Docker, a registry, SSH access, and container troubleshooting are required. |
| Resource overhead | No container layer; useful on a small VPS, subject to Ruby and database memory needs. | Docker adds some storage and memory overhead, normally modest compared with the application’s own services. |
| Multiple applications | Several apps can share Nginx and the host, but each needs isolated users, sockets, directories, and environment files. | Containers isolate dependencies more cleanly, while the host still needs proxy, storage, and monitoring design. |
| TLS and proxy | You configure Nginx and certificate automation directly. | Kamal’s proxy configuration can terminate TLS when the domain and certificate settings are supplied correctly. |
| Observability | Use journald, Nginx logs, Rails logs, and your monitoring agent. | Use container logs plus proxy and host metrics; ensure logs survive container replacement. |
8. Run Rails with Puma, systemd, and Nginx
Create release and shared directories
Keep persistent data outside an individual release so a new checkout does not delete uploads, sockets, or environment files:
sudo install -d -o deploy -g deploy /var/www/myapp/releases
sudo install -d -o deploy -g deploy /var/www/myapp/shared/tmp/sockets
sudo install -d -o deploy -g deploy /var/www/myapp/shared/log
sudo install -d -o deploy -g deploy /var/www/myapp/shared/storagePoint /var/www/myapp/current at the release you intend to serve. If users upload files locally, configure Rails to use the shared storage path or, preferably, durable object storage with its own backup policy.
Bind Puma privately
Configure Puma to listen on localhost or a Unix socket, not on a public interface. A representative config/puma.rb entry is:
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bind 'unix:///var/www/myapp/shared/tmp/sockets/puma.sock'
pidfile '/var/www/myapp/shared/tmp/pids/puma.pid'
stdout_redirect '/var/www/myapp/shared/log/puma.stdout.log', '/var/www/myapp/shared/log/puma.stderr.log', trueChoose worker and thread counts from the application’s memory profile and workload. There is no universal number: each worker loads Ruby and application code, while more threads can increase database connection demand. Set the corresponding database pool size and measure under representative traffic.
Create a systemd unit
Save a unit such as /etc/systemd/system/myapp.service, adjusting the Ruby and Bundler paths for your installation:
[Unit]
Description=Myapp Rails application
After=network.target
[Service]
Type=simple
User=deploy
Group=deploy
WorkingDirectory=/var/www/myapp/current
EnvironmentFile=/etc/myapp/production.env
ExecStart=/home/deploy/.rbenv/shims/bundle exec puma -C config/puma.rb
Restart=always
RestartSec=5
TimeoutStopSec=30
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.targetProtect the environment file and create its parent directory before enabling the service:
sudo install -d -m 750 /etc/myapp
sudo chown root:deploy /etc/myapp/production.env
sudo chmod 640 /etc/myapp/production.env
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now myapp
sudo systemctl status myapp
sudo journalctl -u myapp -n 100 --no-pagerIf the service exits immediately, run the same Bundler command as the deploy user from the working directory. This usually reveals a missing gem, an unreadable secret file, a wrong Ruby shim, or a failed database connection.
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Configure Nginx as the public reverse proxy
Install Nginx and create a server block for your domain:
sudo apt install nginx
sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/myappA minimal Unix-socket configuration is:
server {
listen 80;
server_name your-domain.example;
root /var/www/myapp/current/public;
location /assets/ {
try_files $uri =404;
access_log off;
add_header Cache-Control 'public, max-age=31536000, immutable';
}
location / {
proxy_pass http://unix:/var/www/myapp/shared/tmp/sockets/puma.sock:
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
proxy_read_timeout 60s;
}
}Enable and validate it:
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/myapp /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/myapp
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginxThe exact proxy_pass syntax for a Unix socket is sensitive to the trailing colon; preserve it when adapting the example. Remove the default server block if it captures your domain. DNS must resolve the domain to the VPS before a public certificate can be issued.
Add HTTPS and renewal
Choose an ACME client or certificate provider approved for your environment. Obtain a certificate for the domain, configure Nginx to redirect HTTP to HTTPS, and verify that renewal runs automatically. Test renewal in the provider’s dry-run mode and keep port 80 reachable if the selected challenge method needs it. Rails should receive the forwarded HTTPS scheme so it generates secure URLs and cookies.
9. Deploy with Rails Kamal instead
The Rails Getting Started guide states that “Rails comes with a deployment tool called Kamal that we can use to deploy our application directly to a server.” Kamal uses Docker containers and a production Dockerfile. Its documented prerequisites include an Ubuntu LTS server with at least 1 GB of RAM, a container registry account, SSH access, and DNS for the application domain.
Prepare the application
Review the generated production Dockerfile and config/deploy.yml. Set the image name, server address, SSH user, registry namespace, and any accessory services required by the application. Export the registry credential through the environment variable expected by the project’s Kamal configuration; do not commit it.
Run the first setup
bin/kamal setupSetup installs or prepares the required container services on the server, pulls the image, and starts the configured application. Confirm that the image name, registry credential, firewall rules, and DNS record are correct before running it on a production host.
Deploy later releases
bin/kamal deployBuild and push the image from a controlled workstation or CI runner, then let Kamal replace the running container according to the deployment configuration. Configure the proxy section with your real domain when enabling SSL. Check migrations, persistent volumes, health checks, and log handling in the generated configuration rather than assuming every Rails feature is automatically durable inside a container.
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10. Consider a one-click Rails image
A preconfigured VPS image can reduce initial setup work when you accept the provider’s package choices. For example, DigitalOcean documents a Rails image listing Ubuntu 24.04, Ruby 3.4.7, Rails 8.1.1, PostgreSQL 15, Nginx, Docker, SSL/TLS setup, and systemd integration. Those are catalog versions, not permanent compatibility guarantees; verify the current image contents and update policy when you create the server.
After provisioning any image, inspect users, SSH policy, firewall rules, Ruby and Rails versions, PostgreSQL exposure, certificate renewal, and unattended updates. A one-click image changes the starting point, not your responsibility for secrets, backups, application upgrades, and incident recovery.
11. Verify the deployment before opening it to users
Use a staged checklist instead of treating a successful process start as proof that the application is ready:
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- On the VPS, request the app through its local socket or loopback proxy and confirm a healthy response.
- From an external network, open the domain over HTTPS and verify the certificate name, redirect behavior, secure cookies, and static assets.
- Run the production database preparation task and confirm that the expected schema version is present.
- Exercise authentication, file uploads, mail delivery, background jobs, and any third-party callbacks that production uses.
- Reboot the VPS and confirm that PostgreSQL, the Rails service, Nginx, workers, and any container services return automatically.
- Inspect application, Puma, Nginx, PostgreSQL, and container logs for warnings rather than checking only the HTTP status.
12. Operate and maintain the VPS
Backups and recovery
Schedule PostgreSQL backups, copy them away from the VPS, and periodically restore one to a separate environment. Back up uploaded files and encrypted credentials according to their storage model. Document the exact commands and secrets needed to rebuild the server; a backup that has never been restored is not a tested recovery plan.
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Updates and dependency changes
Apply Ubuntu security updates on a schedule, monitor Ruby and Rails security advisories, and test gem upgrades in staging. For a host-based deployment, upgrade Ruby only through a planned release because changing the interpreter can invalidate native extensions. For Kamal, rebuild and redeploy the image after dependency or base-image changes.
Logs, metrics, and disk space
Use journalctl -u myapp for the systemd service, Nginx access and error logs for proxy failures, and your application’s structured logs for request and job failures. Configure rotation and alert on disk, memory, database connections, queue depth, and certificate expiry. A full disk can look like a database outage or a failed asset build.
13. Troubleshoot common failures
bundle install fails while compiling a gem
Read the first missing header or library in the error, install the corresponding Ubuntu development package, and rerun Bundler with the application’s selected Ruby. Do not solve a compiler error by switching Ruby versions unless the project’s compatibility requirements permit it.
Puma starts manually but systemd fails
Compare the service’s User, WorkingDirectory, EnvironmentFile, Ruby shim path, and file permissions with the interactive shell. Use sudo -u deploy to reproduce the command, then inspect journalctl -u myapp.
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Check that Puma is running, the socket exists, and the Nginx worker can traverse every parent directory and read the socket. A stale socket after a crash, a mismatched socket path, or a service running under the wrong user is more common than an Nginx syntax error. Run sudo nginx -t and inspect both Nginx and Puma logs.
Rails cannot connect to PostgreSQL
Verify the database URL, role password, database name, PostgreSQL listening address, and local authentication rules. Test with the PostgreSQL client using the same host, port, database, and role that the Rails environment uses. Avoid granting superuser privileges to the application role.
Assets or uploads return 404
Confirm that the production asset build completed, Nginx’s root points to the current release’s public directory, and the shared storage path is mounted or linked as configured. Keep generated assets in the release and user data in persistent storage.
The VPS runs out of memory
Inspect worker count, thread count, database connections, asset-build usage, and background jobs. Reduce concurrency only after measuring, add swap or memory where appropriate, and ensure the database pool is not larger than the available connections. The Kamal guide’s 1 GB figure is a documented minimum for its deployment prerequisite, not a performance promise for every Rails workload.
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- Choose host-based Puma, systemd, and Nginx when you want the fewest runtime layers, are comfortable maintaining Linux services, and have one or a small number of applications.
- Choose Kamal and Docker when repeatable images, container-based rollback, and a Rails-documented workflow outweigh the extra registry and container operations.
- Choose a one-click image when fast provisioning matters most, then audit and customize the resulting server as if you had installed every component yourself.
Whichever route you choose, keep Ruby aligned with the repository, run migrations before serving traffic, terminate public TLS at a maintained proxy, bind Puma privately, protect secrets, and rehearse backups and restarts. That combination is what turns an Ubuntu VPS from a reachable machine into a maintainable Rails production server.
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